Interview with Danic Lago
Danic Lago, a Brazilian-British artist based in London after having lived in Switzerland and Mexico, has always had a sharp eye for the world. By exploring the different continents she has lived in, she began to translate her passion for beauty and aesthetic through her pieces.
The poetry made by Danic in her mixed media handcrafted collages frame her delicate world-view, highlighting the mixture of reusable materials which tell new stories through their colours, textures and richness of detail. Her pieces of art stir deep feelings in viewers, creating individual and unique interpretations and relationships with her work.
She regularly exhibits in and around London, participated in the 2019 Florence Biennale and many of her pieces have found homes all over the world
Could you please introduce yourself and tell us how you started in the arts? and your first experience in art making?
My name is Danic Lago, and I am a mixed media collage artist. I have a Business Communications degree and Fashion Communication from Central Saint Martins.
My first experience with art came from the world of fashion, I worked for many years with designers developing new collections, and through this I became interested in mixed media and collage. I made my friend a Christmas card in 2016, and soon after I realised that art was what I enjoyed doing most. The magazines that I used for research, became what I started using for my art. I used all the expertise that I had built from my work in fashion, knowing how to mix textures and colours in harmony. I felt more fulfilled than ever when I worked on collage, and so I left fashion to do what I loved most.
How would you describe yourself and your artwork?
I would describe myself as someone who has a unique perspective on the world, having lived in many countries and experienced life through many different lenses, I like to think that my art reflects this part of me and can shed light on how our identity shapes the worldview we each have. My artwork comes from a place of lightness and love. I use a variety of materials, and I love experimenting with different mediums of art - from paint to textiles, I've used almost everything!
Where do you get your inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from beauty, which I interpret as everything that is alive. Particularly faith - which impacts the most living part of us, our souls. I take inspiration from the natural world, the things that breathe - from the trees that grow to the movement of birds. Our eyes and hands are very important too, they allow us to gesture and communicate with one another.
What emotions do you hope the viewers experience when looking at your art?
I hope that each viewer has a personal connection with my art, I love knowing how different people perceive my pieces - it is immensely fulfilling! The best feeling in the world is seeing viewers interpret my art in a way that is intensely unique and different from my view - when people love your art, it is an indescribable feeling. My original pieces are completely unreproducible, so when viewers connect with them, it is a completely new perspective every time. I like to think that each of my pieces waits patiently for its specific owner!
When do you know that an artwork is finished ?
I feel that my art lets me know that it is finished. It is an organic relationship of mutual respect between my artwork and me, where the piece is as alive as I am. Each piece has a unique personality - they each tell me in different ways that they are complete and I listen. When I don't listen to them, as hard as I might try to add something, or remove something - it will never look right.
What has been the most exciting moment in your art career so far?
Definitely being invited to take part in the Florence Biennale. It was a completely new experience to exhibit alongside 700 artists to celebrate 500 years since Leonardo DaVinci's death. The Biennale was immensely enriching, from being able to exchange knowledge with other artists, to exhibiting in a city so full of art and inspiration. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
How long does it take to produce one work?
It depends on the piece, it varies immensely. Sometimes it can take me a week, sometimes it will take a month or longer. It is affected by the complexity of the artwork and its personality. I can never predict the length of time it will take me to complete one work, because each one is so different.
What exciting projects are you working on right now?
At the moment, I am doing research for a series of collages inspired by indigenous people's headpieces of the Amazonia, called 'cocar'. My Brazilian heritage is something which I am eager to share through my artwork. Its vibrant colours - coming straight from nature, combined with infinite textures of the Amazon Rainforest is hugely inspiring.
Website: www.daniclago.com
Instagram: @danic.lago
Facebook: Danic Lago
